‘Grateful Bed’ competition and garden tours Saturday

On Saturday, August 3, 2012, iGrow and the Community Garden Network of Sonoma County, in conjunction with Sonoma County Regional Parks have created the second annual “Grateful Bed Competition.” A number of gardens in Healdsburg are participating in the countywide event.

The competition was created to highlight the “value, creativity and ingenuity displayed in publicly accessible food-growing gardens.”

The event offers self-guided tours of participating gardens to take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday. The tours are free; however, donations will be accepted and can be made to the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. Individual nonprofit host sites may also accept donations.

Gardens participating in Healdsburg include:

Badger Park Community Garden Plot #14,

750 Heron Dr.

Contact Kathryn Miller

From the Parks’ website: This gardener has been gardening at the community garden for seven years. She uses the method of square-foot gardening. The garden is divided into 4-foot squares with pathways between. Each square can be divided into many different sections. When one square or section is finished producing, it is easy to clear, add some compost and replant. The gardener composts year round, using many of the plants for compost.

Healdsburg Senior Living Garden

14725 Grove St.
Contact Tony Fisher

From the Parks’ website: The Healdsburg Senior Living Resident Garden is nearly 6,000 square feet and planted by residents with organic heirloom seeds. The seeds are then moved to the greenhouse then planted in the garden mid-May. With nearly 40 varieties of tomatoes, 20 varieties of squash and gourds, eight varieties of melons, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and herbs, there is something for everyone.

Terrace Community Garden

429 Terrace Blvd.
Contacts Rick Kaye and Valerie Williams

From the Parks’ website: A family has been growing food year-round in a plot at Terrace Community Garden in Healdsburg since 2011. Currently, the family is growing peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, melons, pumpkins, kale, sweet corn, tomatoes, tomatillos, herbs, strawberries, pole beans, sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and yarrow. Members helped design and build the greenhouse on site, and volunteer many hours to do the composting and maintenance for the site.

No strollers, no pets, no smoking. Some gardens do not have bathroom facilities.

Prizes will be awarded and a “People’s choice Award,” can be voted on by posting the name of your favorite registered garden on the Sonoma County Regional Parks’ Facebook page, by emailing socoparks@sonoma-county.org, or by leaving a message at 789-9699. Votes must be in by midnight (Pacific Daylight Time) on August 3.